Tokyo Olympics: Clayton Murphy finishes outside medals in 800m finals

MIAMI VALLEY — Tri-Village High School graduate Clayton Murphy will have to wait another Olympics for his chance to win another medal after finishing ninth in the Men’s 800 meters final at the Tokyo Olympics Wednesday morning.

Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir from Kenya took the gold, Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich, also from Kenya took silver, and Patryk Dobek from Poland claimed bronze.

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Murphy’s family and more than a dozen friends gathered at his father’s home to watch the race, which took place just after 8 a.m. local time, 9 p.m. in Tokyo.

Clayton’s dad Mark Murphy described the race as a tactical race, but Clayton was unable to catch the front of the pack to earn a medal.

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“In a race like this, no one wanted to take off and run fast.  They were trying to protect their position and when you get something that’s really slow then the race becomes dangerous, because guys are on top of each other and they aren’t stretched out,” Mark Murphy said. “Then, at the end when you want to kick, like Clayton’s known to kick, at that level all nine runners had the same kind of kick.  All you’re doing is matching step for step.”

This year’s Olympics was Clayton’s second trip. In the 2016 Rio Olympics Clayton won the bronze medal in the 800 meters.

Leading up to Wednesday’s race Clayton had placed first in his initial heat and second in the semi finals.

Clayton’s dad said he anticipates the Darke County native attempting to make the USA Olympics team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

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